"And God blessed them and said: 'Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish in the sea, over the birds in the sky, and over every living creature that moves on the earth.'" (Genesis, ch. 1, v. 28*).
I panicked when I saw my five-year-old daughter lying face down on the dirty ground. As I ran to her, I called out:
- Katie, are you okay?
She raised her head and replied calmly:
- I'm talking to the worms.
There was no reason for me to be surprised. Katie felt personally responsible for the care of every creature she encountered. She would read to her pet snake before bedtime. She spent hours building tiny houses for jumping spiders. And if she found a dead fly on the windowsill, she would give it a proper burial.
In Genesis, ch. 1, we learn that God gives humanity the responsibility to care for His creation. This does not mean we should talk to worms or build houses for spiders, but we should care for the fragile ecosystems that provide a home for countless living creatures. Some ways we can do this include recycling and reducing our use of fossil fuels by walking, biking, or using public transportation whenever possible.
As stewards of God's creation, each of us can contribute to helping protect and preserve our precious environment. And if you see a worm today, greet it from Katie.
Link to the original article: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2023-09-10
* Bible quotes are from Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013